Providing students with hands-on experience analyzing rocks, minerals, fossils, soils, and waters, in a small classroom setting

Earth and Environmental Science faculty and students study the many physical, chemical, and biological systems that compose the earth. Using modern observational, analytical, and computational methods, they examine how the planet’s interior, surface, hydrosphere, and atmosphere have evolved since the earth was born in the solar system 4.6 billion years ago. Topics commonly studied in the department include how plate movements cause earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building; global climate change and how climate change and catastrophic events cause changes in biodiversity; how and where economic resources are generated in the earth; and how these resources are located and used in modern society.

The Geoscience curriculum provides students with hands-on experience analyzing rocks, minerals, fossils, soils, and waters, generally in a small classroom setting. Much of this experience is obtained in laboratory and field courses. Field courses include travel to other states or countries to view earth materials and fossils in the context of their natural surroundings.

Many of The University of Iowa’s geoscience graduates find employment with resource companies, environmental corporations, and educational institutions. Others continue in graduate school or take jobs with government or conservation agencies. Some intend to enter law, business, or fields such as urban planning, environmental studies, engineering, archaeology, science education, or oceanography as advanced areas. Geoscience provides skills useful for all of these.